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Illustration of an Indian woman holding a flower
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BULAQI, SON OF HOSHANG

Shah-Jahan honouring Prince Dara-Shikoh at his wedding (12 February 1633) / Bulaqi, son of Hoshang.

1656-57

RCIN 1005025.aa

f.125a: Shah-Jahan honouring Prince Dara-Shikoh (plate 26) After the wedding procession had reached the palace on 12 February 1633, Prince Dara-Shikoh greeted his father outside the Diwan-i-Khass, the Hall of Private Audience. The bottom half of the sheet depicts musicians providing entertainment, by the light of large two-branched candelabra while officials standing on the terrace above watch the emperor (seen on the accompanying sheet) placing the sehra - a veil made of strands of pearls set with rubies and emeralds - around the head of Prince Dara-Shikoh. The manuscript records: 'In accordance with the custom of Hindustan, for good luck His Majesty fastened around the Prince's head the sehra [veil], which consists of strands of lustrous pearls with brilliant rubies and emeralds, and which His Majesty Jannat-Makani [Jahangir] had fastened with his own blessed hand around His Majesty's [Shah-Jahan's] head on the eve of his marriage.' At the end of the day a magnificent firework display took place, the fireworks taking human, animal and fantastic forms, some of which are just discernible. The English traveller, Peter Mundy, who was present for this great event, left the following detailed description: 'On the Strand by the River side, under the castle wall and the Kinges windowe, there was a place Rayled in, about half a mile in Compasse att least. In it were placed the fireworkes, vizt., first a ranck [row] of great Eliphants, whose bellies were full of squibbs, Crackers, etts. Then a ranck of Gyants with wheeles in their hands, then a ranck of Monsters.' The artist Bulaqi has signed the sheet on the book being carried by the second figure on the left.

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